Bigger than the Ashes, here comes Pakistan versus India

So the big encounter in the T20 cricket world cup 2016 is on Saturday’s evening, one match and unlimited entertainment. The two traditional rivals Pakistan and India will be facing each other in their second match of the T20 World Cup 2016 in group B aka the death group. Venue this time is the famous Eden Gardens Kolkata, where both the arch rivals have played all formats of the Cricket except the T20 International. Pakistan has an upper hand against the Indians in One day Internationals at this stadium.

Millions of viewers across the world will be watching the high voltage clash .The Offices, the Markets, the work places, the Restaurants and the roads present a deserted look when the two teams face each other in a Cricket Match. Sometimes even relaxation is given to the employees from the work so that they can watch the match. However, Bosses everywhere this time will not have to worry about the work as the match will be played in the evening.

Thus without having a tension of the work, the cricket loving fans will be able to enjoy and watch the cricket match along with their families. The weather over the last few days has become cold. It has been raining since the last few days, thus the fun of watching the cricket match will become more doubled when one is wrapped in blankets, chadars or  sitting round the electric and gas heaters, or around the fire, sipping tea with Garam Garam Samosas, Pakoras and Halwas, thus adding on to the beauty of the match.

Cricket Diplomacy was at times used as a tool to reinstate the negotiations between the two countries and put some cold water on the burning fire. However, since a long time except the international events, both the teams have not played bilateral series against each other. One could not have imagined that the Cricket Boards of the two countries will ever come become hostile in the field of Cricket too. Cricket matches between the two countries have always given the fans of the two countries some everlasting moments of pleasure and excitement, hence the high ups of the cricket boards of the two countries should not deprive the fans of entertaining cricket, bringing amusement in their tense lives.

Political tensions and security concerns in the weeks preceding the World Twenty20, however, left the administrators and fans in a limbo: ‘Will they, won’t they?’Till the last week, no one was sure about the participation of the Pakistani Cricket Team in the T20 Cricket World Cup. The clouds of uncertainty over the fixture settled when Indians assured full proof security to the Pakistani cricket team and ultimately the venue of the match was changed from Dharamsal to Kolkata.

Unlike Pakistan, where the people despite the hostility and harsh relations between the two countries will never create an opportunity to deprive the cricket loving nations of both the countries from a thrilling and exciting matches, extremists organizations in the form of Shiv Sena were opposing the visit of Pakistan Cricket team to India and even threatened to dig the pitch.

However, thanks to the Indian government for providing security to the Pakistani team and its warm reception on the airport where the Chief Minister of the Indian Province of West Bengal Mr. Mumta Banergee and Ex Indian Cricket Captain and President of the Cricket Association of Bengal  Sourav Ganguli personally came to the airport to receive the Pakistan Cricket team.

Pak India Cricket Matches have always been thrilling and exciting to watch, especially when the two teams are facing each in an international event. In the words of R Ashwin “It’s bigger than Ashes, its border rivalry for fans”. No other game is watched as much as Pakistan- India cricket match. The two cricketing giants battling it out on the field is fodder for every individual crazy about the game. It is a fight for pride, for the honor of the win, for all that is sacred in cricket. It is a matter of utter joy for the cricket fans to witness the passion which the teams unreservedly display on the field.

Be it Pakistan, India, UAE or a neutral venue, the stadium is always full to its capacity and jam packed whenever the two cricket teams are playing against each other. Everybody tries to have a ticket in advance to watch the match in the stadium but few are lucky to witness it. Those who miss the opportunity of watching it in the stadium cling to their tv sets and radio sets. In big cities, big screens are installed to facilitate the public to watch the match. Pak India Cricket matches have always been exciting and one has to control his nerves and senses till the game is finished. But, one should accept the fact that one of the side has to win and one has to lost and the team who performs well in the field will win the match.

Tensions are rising and so are the passions. Patriots are bringing out their gear. Cricket fans in Pakistan left no stone unturned criticizing their ever loved Boom Boom Afridi over the recent statement in response to a question about concerns regarding playing in India saying that I felt more loved in India than in Pakistan. Even a lawyer was so seriously distressed that he filed a legal notice against him. However, realizing the situation over his controversial statement, another statement was issued saying whatever I am today is because of the Cricket fans in Pakistan. Same was the case when Virat Kohli complemented Muhammad Aamir for the way he bowled in the Asia Cup.

Almost every facebook account holder profile picture is bathed in their national colors; some however are doing things a little differently by supporting the rival team. The act should not be treated as anti national as in the words of Zuckerberg “This story shows that the more connected we are, the more we realize that what unites us is  more important than what divides us”.

Pakistani have been much unlucky to celebrate the victory of their team against the Indians in a world cup match be it One Day international world cup or the T20 World Cup. They always crash while facing the men in blue. Pakistan has never won a world cup encounter playing against India. India enjoys a 10-0 record against Pakistan in all world cup matches. So will history repeat itself on Saturday evening or it might change.

Will the Pakistani players stop another addition in the list of defeats? Will MS Dhoni words (it will not always be the case that Indian become victorious every time while playing against Pakistan in a world cup match) come true which he said last time in the post match presentation ceremony when the Indian Cricket Team beat Pakistan in the world cup match last year. Will the Pakistani fans be able to say “ Hum nay is dafa India ko hara kar pechla sara hisab kitab barabar kar dia hay (We have taken all the previous revenge by beating India this time)”. For some of the Pakistani fans win against the Indian Cricket team is much more important than winning the world cup trophy. One might have heard statements like this “No need to win the world cup, just beat India in the match”.

One has to be with strong nerves to watch a Pakistan and India Cricket match. In case of win, the fans goes crazy, distributes sweets, have bhangras on the roads, beating the drums, dancing and above all the TV Channels continues to have stories of the Cricket Match in their headlines in the bulletins. Players are elevated to the status of heroes in case of win. However, the anger of the furious fans knew no bounds in case of defeat. They continue to ventilate their rage in the social media. Facebook and twitter are flooded with angry comments. The emotional ones break their tv sets. The blame game continues. The players with the worst performance are not spared. The effigies of the players are burnt on the roads and this continues for some days. Even the common man becomes cricket connoisseur and tries to give expert opinion and advices to the players.

Pakistani fans have still not forgot the sweep short of Misbah ul Haq when he was caught out and thus Pakistan lost the world cup final match against the India. People still call Misbah the Tuk Tuk because of that slow paced batting against the Indian Cricket team when the run rate was getting higher with each passing over. This time they have a hope in the form of Sarfaraz Ahmad, the wicket keeper batsman. However some of the fans are not sure by saying “ Sarfaraz aaj dhoka to nahe daiga ”.

Chairman Pakistan Tehreeki Insaf and the winning captian of the 1992 world cup cricket team Imran Khan will also be there to witness the cricket match and having live commentary. His presence will definitely boost the morale of the Pakistani players and hope they will benefit from his tips and guidance before entering the ground. Indian team will have the obvious advantage of the home crowd, however the win over Bangladesh in the opening match of the world cup and the lost of Indian team against the Kiwis will definitely give psychological advantage to the Pakistan team.

Gone are the days when the Indian Opening pair and the Pakistani pace attack used to decide the direction of the match in the initial overs.  No Sachin, Virendar Sehwag, No Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar these days. Its now Boom Boom Afridi vs MS Dhoni, Muhammad Aamir versus Virat Kohli.Both the teams have well experienced players, Indians have in the form of Kohli, Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Jadega, while Pakistani s having in the form of Afridi, Malik, Ahmad Shehzad and Hafeez.

The camaraderie on display is likely to take a back seat though when the two sides face off in what is the most eagerly awaited clash of the tournament. Having a look at the combination of players, team India looks favorite, however Pakistan team is in no way weaker than the Indian team. The top order is delivering, hope so the middle order would also play their due role and if coupled by a good performance from the fast bowler and the spin bowling, results could turn in favor of Pakistan.

Cricket should always be taken like a game. Sports and politics must not be mixed. Irrespective of which team wins in one of the most important match between the two traditional rivals of the subcontinent, hope the match will give some moments of amusement and enjoyment to the fans across the borders.